AIRPORT-SHIELD - Protection against radio interferences in airports

Brief Overview

Modern airports are crowded with several types of RF signals, distributed over a wide range of frequencies.

Airports’ signals, communication, radio navigation and precise landing systems are critical for the safety and the security of airport activities and airborne operations. Unfortunately, at the
same time unauthorised communications and interferences can easily be generated with a dramatic
impact on airworthiness.

AIRPORT-SHIELD provides the capability to monitor the entire electromagnetic environment in the aerodrome and to detect and geolocalise with high accuracy the source of interferences.

Concept of Operations

AIRPORT-SHIELD can operate in “Interference Identification” mode or in “Continuous Surveillance” mode.

Interference Identification: during normal airport operations, control tower operators, air traffic controllers or aircraft crews may encounter difficulties using communication
systems and navaids.

Procedure requires that the Control Tower is informed of such an event. It is at this point that AIRPORT-SHIELD enters into action. After selecting in AIRPORT-SHIELD the radio channel affected by
the interference or the specific malfunctioning navaids, AIRPORT-SHIELD verifies the presence of interfering signals and identifies the position of the source.

The Control Tower can then send security guards to the exact position which the interference comes from. At the same time, AIRPORT-SHIELD checks that the airport systems emit RF signals which
conform to specifications (for example, ICAO regulations). This operation is necessary to exclude cases of fake interference due to malfunctioning airport equipment.

Continuous Surveillance: in this mode AIRPORT-SHIELD continuously monitors the electromagnetic environment around the airport and compares it with the alarm database. In this
database, the operators can insert a list of authorized and unauthorised signals, specifying for each one their respective parameters (e.g. frequency, modulation, power, emitter position, spectral
mask etc.). If AIRPORT-SHIELD detects abnormalities, it will immediately send a notification to the personnel responsible.

Continuous Surveillance mode, therefore, allows continuous and automatic monitoring to define whether the regulations regarding use of radio devices in airport environments are being respected as
well as monitoring the efficiency of airport communication and navigation systems.

AIRPORT-SHIELD Interference Detection Sensor

General Features

Standard Frequency Coverage (frequency extension options available):

Monitoring: 9 kHz - 6 GHz

Direction Finding 20 MHz - 6 GHz

Standard Instantaneous Bandwidth: 24 MHz

High Instrument DF accuracy: ≤ 0.5 RMS @ SNR = 10 dB

DF-while-Scan technology for monitoring and DF of multiple signals at the same time (key feature for short transmissions DF)

System Architecture

AIRPORT-SHIELD is a geolocalisation network which consists of a certain number of Monitoring Units and a Control Centre. The Monitoring Units provides Lines of Bearing (LOB) to the Control Centre
in order to triangulate and geolocalise the source of interference.

The number of Monitoring Units and their position is in accordance with the operative requirements, the installation constraints and the propagation conditions in the airport area. The Control Centre
allows the operator to monitor the electromagnetic environment and to analyse the interference.

The Control Centre is equipped with a 2D and 3D map and an easy to use Graphical Interface.

It is not necessary to be a radio monitoring expert in order to operate AIRPORT-SHIELD.

AIRPORT-SHIELD Monitoring Units are based on RMS-DF-X, LOG.IN’s Intercept and DF family of systems. RMS-DF-X offers high dynamic range, high sensitivity and wide instantaneous bandwidth.

Click here to go to the RMS-DF-X page for additional information on the AIRPORT-SHIELD
Monitoring Units.

AIRPORT-SHIELD Monitoring Units can be connected via a wired or wireless network.
Monitoring Units can be fixed, transportable or mobile.

Different types of DF antennas are available. An automatic calibration feature is also available.

LOG.IN has an extensive catalogue of solutions to meet even the most challenging operative requirements.

3 Monitoring Units Configuration

In accordance with English and Italian law it may be necessary for LOG.IN to obtain an export license from the Export Control Authority.

LOG.IN does not expect any difficulties in obtaining the export license but the final response can only be given from the authority after the
system configuration, the content of the service and the End Customer have been clearly identified.